When children are exposed to early, complex, and/or long-term trauma, their brains can become wired for self-protection. Often, it makes them feel responsible for taking care of themselves. This focus on survival and controlling one’s environment can affect the natural progression through the developmental stages impacting conscience development and empathy for others.

Children often internalize early negative experiences. It results in a feeling there must be something wrong with them that caused the events to occur in the first place. This can deeply impact a child’s self-concept, self-esteem and can leave them with intense feelings of shame, hopelessness and helplessness.

From Healing Discipline: Bringing Hope to Shattered Lives; A book for Educators